Electric gauge



' R. coWAN ELECTRIC GAUGE Jan. 21, 1936.

Filed April 18, 1932 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 Inventor Jan. 21, 1936.

R. COWAN 2,@9895@ ELECTRIC GAUGE Filed April 18, 1932 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 y55 Invenvor 6.9 J' 3'9- i By 'QM Jan. 21, 1,936.

R. COWAN 2,28,501

ELECTRIC GAUGE Filed April 18, 1952 4 Sheets-Sheet 5 Jan. 21, 1936.

Filed April 18, 1952 R'. coWAN ELECTRIC GAUGE 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 6,6Inventor ZZ'/ yzaazz V @Zwan/3:22

iforney Patented Jan. 21, 1936 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE ELECTRICGAUGE Rich Cowan, Comyn, Tex.

Application April 18,

1 Claim.

This invention relates to new and useful improvements in electricregisters and more particularly to a register of the electrical floatcontrolled type.

The principal object of the invention is to provide a liquid gaugeparticularly adapted for use in conjunction with reservoirs such ascontain gasoline, oil, or other fluids.

Another important object of the invention is to provide a gauge whichwill readily indicate varying capacity either on the increase ordecrease.

These and numerous other important objects and advantages of theinvention will become apparent to the reader of the followingspecification.

In the drawingS:-

Figure 1 represents a diagrammatic View disclosing the invention in itsentirety.

Fig. 2 represents a rear elevational view of the 20 gauge with the backcover plate removed.

Fig. 3 represents a vertical sectional view through the gauge.

Fig. 4 represents a fragmentary detailed elevational view of theelectro-magnetic ratchet means.

Fig. 5 represents a fragmentary detailed sectional View disclosing theelectro-magnetic means.

Fig. 6 represents a fragmentary enlarged horizontal sectional view takensubstantially on line 6-6 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 7 represents an enlarged fragmentary detailed sectional View takensubstantially on line '1 -'I of Fig. 2.

Fig. 8 represents a fragmentary enlarged deta-iled sectional view of thetoothed switch controlling wheel and associated mechanisms.

Fig. 9 represents a vertical sectional view through the structure shownin Fig. 8.

Fig. 10 represents a horizontal sectional View through the upper portionof the structure shown in Fig. 8.

Fig. 11 represents a perspective view of the contactor of the switch.

Fig. l2 represents an enlarged fragmentary detailed sectional view takensubstantially on line I2I2 of Fig. 11.

Fig. 13 represents a diagrammatic view disclosing the electricalconnections between the electrical devices involved.

Referring to the drawings wherein like numerals designate like parts, itcan be seen that numeral 5 generally refers to the container in whichthe fluid to be gauged is located, while numeral 6 generally refers tothe transmitting or switching device, which is connected to the CII1932, Serial No. 606,057

receiver or remotely located indicating gauge generally referred to bynumeral 'I'.

As is clearly shown in Fig. S, the switching mechanism E involves acylindrical two part casing 8, the sections being denoted by a a and b.The section b is secured to the section a by suitable means c while theneck 9 extends upwardly from the section b and internally supports adi-electric plate i0 supporting the adjustable contacts I2-I2 and I3|3,the contacts S22-S2 being complementary and the contacts i3-i3 beingcomplementary respectively.

In Fig. l2, numeral I 4 generally refers to the contacter which consistsof a pair of spring brackets I5-I5, secured to the aforementioneddi-electric plate Ii, so as to depend therefrom. A strap I5 bridges thelower ends of the bracket members i-i, the ends of the strap I8 beinginsulated from the ends of the brackets I5 by suitable insulatingmaterial I'I. the bracket members i5 carries a contact I8 on each sidethereof, and at the intermediate portion of the strap I6, depends atongue I9 which is engageable with the teeth 20 on the disk 2|.

This disk 2I is carried by the shaft 22 which extends through thecentral portion of the housing 8, the tongue being so disposed as topermit the teeth to wipe against the same so as to flex the bracketmembers i5-i5 to engage the contacts I8 with the corresponding contactsI2-I3, regardless of which direction the disk 2I is rotated.

To always maintain the tongue i9 depending between a pair of teeth andin spaced relation to the disk 2 I, a roller 23 is carried by theswingable bracket 24 and has a leaf spring 25 bearing against the same,to always maintain the roller urged between the pair cf the teeth 20 onthe disk 2 I. Obviously, when the roller 23 is engaged in the positionshown in Fig. 8, the disk 2| is so positioned, that the tongue I9, whiledisposed between a pair of teeth, is not touching the teeth, nor thedisk 2I, thereby maintaining the transmitting circuit broken.

As is shown in Fig. 9, a large drum 26 is located on the shaft 22 and onthis drum 23 is wound the cable 21 which extends upwardly through theconduit 29 and over the pulleys 28 therein, to depend into the tank 5where it is attached to the float 30.

As is clearly shown in Fig. 8, the shaft 22 is provided with an openingextending transversely therethrough to receive the leaf spring 3I. Onthe adjacent side of the drum 26 are two pairs of lugs 32-32 and 33-33,these lugs being in Each of indicating hand and consists of the horseshoe,

these two complementary groups, and each provided with a set screw Sri.These set screws bear against the ends of the spring 3l in the mannershown in Fig. 8, so that proper adjustmentl can be made to insureexactness in position between the disk 2l and the shaft 22 with respectto the switching means disclosed above the disk 2|.

On the shaft 22 of the drum 26 is a smaller drum 35 which has a cable 36wound thereon. rlhis cable Sii extends downwardly in the barrel 3l whichdepends from the lower section. a of the housing 8 where it is equippedwith a counter- V'weight 35.

Reference will now be made to the receiver or gauge device generallyreferred to by numeral 'i and in Fig. l, it will be seen that the sameinvolves the construction of a casing 39 supported upon the base it andhaving a front paneli 4I fronted by a pane of glass G2. The back of thiscasing 39 is provided with a removable plate 33 and as is clearly shownin Fig. 3,y the panel ll has an opening therein through which thebushing de extends. In this bushing fifi operates the stub shaft d5which at the front side ofv the panel ii is equipped with the indicatinghand lit. The opposite end of the stub shaft 35 is provided with aratchet wheel Iii'.

It is course to be understood, that this shaft l5 can he geared down orgeared up to operate indicating hands to denote various other readings,either in regard to volume, depth or other measurements.

As is clearly shown in Fig. 2, numeral i3 represents a leaf springanchored as at its to the rear side ofthe panel lli and this at its freeend is provided with a brush or some other element for frictionalengagement with the ratchet wheelv d?, so that the ratchet wheel di willnot be free to rotateindependently of the ratchet mechanism shownbeneath the ratchet wheel in Fig. 2.

Numeral 5i represents the electromagnetic means cooperating with-theratchet wheel el and magnet secured to the panel di by the di.- electricplate 53 and tie bolts 5. A bracket 55 (see Fig. 3), supports themagnetic coil, in that a pin 53 extends through the di-electricintermediate section e? of the armature which has the core sectionsextending therefrom and.

upon each of which is an electro-magnetic coil 59 each opposed to onepole of theaforementioned.

hors-e shoe magnet 52.

An arm tt extends upwardly from the cli-electric section 5l and has apin Si at its upper end. swingably supporting a pair of pawls Q-.. whichare connected together in the upwardly diverged position shown in Fig. 2by the coiled'.

spring 5t. Numeral 55 represents slotted plates slidabie on the screwstit. Each of these plates t5 is equipped with an outstanding lug. 61;and

each of these lugs 6l forms a fulcrum for a pawl 62 or 63.

Obviously, When the coils 59 rock and the arm 60 oscillates, thecorresponding pawl 62 or 63 yielding with the tension of the spring S4and against its corresponding fulcrum lug 6'! Will engage the ratchetwheel il and move the ratchet wheel the distance of one tooth.

Numerals @S8-58 represent adjustable stops for the arms. te, whilenumeral 5.3 represents an adjustable bracket extending outwardly fromthe rear side of the panel lll. The outer end of this bracket $9 has aleaf spring 'iii anchored thereto as at 7l. The other end of the leafspring 1G is rigidly secured as at i2 to the intermediate portion of thearmv $9. Thus the arm 69 is normally under tension to obviously equalizethe position of the coils normally between the poles of the magnet 52.

It can now be seen in Fig. 13, that the battery circuit 'S includes thebattery 14, the manual switch i5 and the contacts S-l 8k whichA areinisulated from each other as shown in Figs. 7 and 12.

Numeral 'E5 represents thev circuit for one of the coils 5t whilenumeral 'il represents the circuit for the other coil, and obviously,when thev wheel 2i ceases operating in on-e direction, to engage forinstance the contacts lZ-E'S on the left inFig. i2, and the` wheel 2i'rotatesV in theY opposite direction, when the tank 5 is being lled andthe level of the ilud in the tank changes, the contact-s it--iS willengage the remaining contacts Iii-E3, on the right in Fig. 13 forreversing the circuit to the coiis 5S-E;. to simply change the polaritythereof, softhatthe coils and the arms will be rocked to theoppositefdirectien for obviousy feedingY the ratchetA Wheel' 4l in theopposite direction..

While Y the foregoing specification: sets forth. the inventionv inAspecic` terms-,- iti is: tot be understood that numerous changes in theshape-.sizeandmateria-ls may be resorted. to Without departing fromV thespirit and scope: of; the invention asll claimed hereinafter.

HavingV thus described my invention, whatI. claim as new is:-

Feed means for ratchet. wheels. r comprisingv a-` pair of pawls, meansfor swingably mounting the pawls adjacent a wheel for engagement therewith, adjustable fulcrunis for the said pawls, said fulcrums eachconsisting of a slotted plate, a; member disposedv through. the` slottof: the pla-te for tightening the plate against a suitable sup-- port,and-a spring connecting: said pawls-togetherl and tensionally urging thesaine.' toward'. the wheel, eachy of saidplatesbeing providedwith ai lugagainst which said pawlsifulcrum;

RICH COWAN;

